ANCHORAGE (Sept. 13) - The Seawolf volleyball team started fast but couldn't stay with the 5th-ranked team in the country, losing 28-30, 30-19, 30-20, 30-22 to Western Washington at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex tonight.

UAA (7-3, 1-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) was led by Mindy Cason's 11 kills, while the Vikings (8-1, 2-0) got a match-high 20 kills from Kristy Carstensen and 14 from Meghan Evoy.

The loss was UAA's first at home this season and snapped a six-match winning streak. Meanwhile, WWU extended its conference winning streak to 43 matches and still has not lost in the three years of the GNAC's existence.

The Seawolves came out strong and capped their Game 1 victory on a kill from Cason. UAA hit .238 in that frame, but the Vikings' stellar defense then took over, holding the Seawolves to .042 hitting the rest of the way.

O'Lita McWilliams had her eighth double-double of the season with 10 kills and 13 digs, while Starr Burgan reached 10 kills as well. Sophomore Kalie Davis led UAA with a career-best 18 digs.

The Vikings, whose only loss came to current No. 1 UC San Diego, got an incredible 28 digs from libero Nicola Parker, while Jamie Petersen, Rachelle Cooper and Brianna Murray combined for 34 more kills.

UAA next hits the road for three straight matches, beginning Saturday, Sept. 20 in Fairbanks. First serve is 7 p.m. at the Patty Center.